1920-1927

1920-25
Continued to reside in Dublin. Was appointed assistant secretary to the Irish advisory committee of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust and co-founded the Irish Central Library for Students with Christina Keogh and Lennox Robinson. Placed articles in The Leader, The Irish Statesman, and The Gael. In May 1924 first trip to France as a civilian (where he is first introduced to James Joyce), and to Spain. The next summer, first trip to Switzerland. Both trips provided the inspiration for half-a-dozen poems. Probably in May 1925 moved to London.

1925-26
Began writing criticism (book, ballet and opera) for The Criterion, The Nation, The Connoisseur, The Times Literary Supplement, and the New Statesman. Appointed assistant editor of The Connoisseur, a journal of the arts. Occasionally acted as deputy lecturer at the National Gallery, London. In 1926 began to translate Paul Valéry's Introduction à la méthode de Léonard de Vinci. In May 1926, published first poem, 'Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill'. Continued to have poetry published regularly in journals until 1932. In November/December wrote the theme for the ballet Pomona composed by Constant Lambert and choreographed by Nijinska (first performed on 9 September 1927 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires). Meets T.S. Eliot.

1927
In January 1927 took up temporary post at the École Normale Supérieure (Paris) as lecteur d'anglais, which, in October 1928, was renewed for two more years.